Risk-taking Hobbies

Hobbies and Risk-taking

While often discouraged and avoided, taking risks can be enjoyable, beneficial, and even required. Hobbies can allow us to enjoy the benefits of risk-taking, while mostly avoiding its downsides.

Risk-taking Can Be Beneficial but Is Mostly Discouraged

• Risk-taking can be enjoyable, beneficial, or even required:

three fundamentally different motives of risk-taking: as an end in itself, as a means to an end and as a response to vulnerability.

The meaning of risk-taking – key concepts and dimensions | Taylor & Francis

• For some, risk-taking supports a stronger sense of self:

In edgework [voluntary risk-taking] the focus is on the exploration of one’s limits (the edge) and to confirm one’s skills and abilities which provide ‘edgeworkers’ with heightened feelings of autonomy, self-worth, meaning and confidence.

[…] risk-taking is part of developing and protecting a valued identity.

[…] This is how people make sense of the world and position themselves in it.

The meaning of risk-taking – key concepts and dimensions | Taylor & Francis

• But even for those of us who are not daredevils, risk-taking is a part of everyday life and can be essential for decision-making, and beneficial, as it supports growth and learning.

[…] science shows that taking risks helps people, at any age, to learn.

Research in Cognitive Psychology Explains Benefits of Risk-Taking | Carnegie Mellon Today

• Even though risk-taking can be essential and beneficial, we are usually discouraged from taking risks and do not get many opportunities to do so voluntarily.
• There are even policies and strategies to reduce people’s risk-taking. We are encouraged to play it safe.
• Many people are reluctant to take risks in their personal and professional lives, as they fear failure, rejection, or criticism.

Hobbies Can Present an Opportunity for Contained, Knowledgeable Risk-taking

• Hobbies can allow us to take risks in a contained, safe environment.
• On one hand, we are passionate and care deeply about our hobbies, so any risk-taking within it feels real and meaningful.
• On the other hand, hobbies are activities we do for our own sake and enjoyment, without an external goal. Therefore, the consequence of risk-taking is mostly contained and limited.
• Hobbies allow us to enjoy the upsides of risk-taking, while mostly avoiding the downsides of it.
• Hobbies can also allow us to take knowledgeable, reasonable, risks:

Lacking knowledge is certainly a problem in a large number of risk-taking activities.

Research in Cognitive Psychology Explains Benefits of Risk-Taking | Carnegie Mellon Today

• Hobbies can also help us build a stronger sense of self, making it easier to take beneficial risks, avoid disadvantageous risks, and discern between the two.